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Category Archives: Call-A-Human

The Call-A-Human application has been updated to version 1.4 in BlackBerry AppWorld. This new version includes some updated listings as well as more polished options and about pages.

About the Call-A-Human app

The Call-A-Human application allows you to easily call straight to a customer service person at hundreds of companies without having to go through the hassle of going through a phone tree. The application includes a built in search field, and also integrates with universal search so you can just start typing the company name into your BlackBerry without even having to launch the application.

Links & Information

The Call-A-Human application has been updated to version 1.3 with updated listings, support for the new OS 7 devices, and integration with the native options panel. This app allows you to easily call straight to a customer service person at hundreds of companies without having to go through the hassle of going through a phone tree. The application includes a built in search field, and on BlackBerry devices running OS 6.0+ it also integrates with universal search so you can just start typing the company name without even having to open the application.

Links & Information

The Call-A-Human application has been updated to version 1.2 with expanded listings, and updates to some current ones. This application allows you to easily call straight to a customer service person at hundreds of companies without having to go through the hassle of going through a phone tree. The application also includes a built in search field, and for BlackBerry devices running OS 6.0 or higher it integrates with universal search so you can just start typing without even opening the application.

Efficiency Improvements

Using this application is far faster then manually going through the phone menus or even just pounding zero. The first three columns in the chart shows the time (in seconds) it takes to get to an actual human by using the menu, by just hitting zero, and by using the Call-A-Human application. The final two columns show the percent increase in efficiency that the application provides.

Links & Information

The Call-A-Human application has been updated to version 1.1 in order to add more listings, and update some current ones. The application allows you to easily call straight to a customer service person at hundreds of companies. The application also includes a built in search field, and integrates with universal search on BlackBerry devices running OS6. The original post has more on the application, including a speed comparison.

New in Version 1.1

Version 1.1 of Call-A-Human some listings were updated, while additional listings were added (most of which were banks). Also for devices with touchscreens, the application now automatically dismisses the virtual keyboard when it is not needed.

Links & Information

New today in BlackBerry AppWorld, is our Call-A-Human application. The application contains listings for hundreds of companies, and allows you to easily call in to their customer service personnel. The application also includes a built in search field, and integrates with universal search on BlackBerry devices running OS6.

More then just making the toll free numbers for these corporations easily available, the Call-A-Human application, will navigate itself through the phone menus to get you talking with an actual human as quickly as possible.

Speed Comparison

Below is a representative sampling of companies along with the time in seconds that it takes to get transferred to a representative by going through the phone menu, and by using this application. The final column shows (as a percentage) the increase in efficiency that is gained by using this application. Additional time saved by not needing to look up and enter the phone numbers is not included in the below charts, but represents another way that using the Call-A-Human application can save you time.

Corporation

Phone Menu

Call-A-Human

Efficiency

American Eagle

44

14

214%

FedEx

136

14

871%

Hertz

33

18

83%

Mutual of Omaha

31

17

82%

Norwegian Cruise Line

32

11

191%

RBC

72

14

414%

Time Warner Cable

60

26

131%

US Bank

62

18

244%

WalMart

56

11

409%

The in these nine examples show improvements in time to transfer from 82% to 871% by allowing the Call-A-Human to work through the automated phone menus, instead of doing it yourself.

Of course many people know that one way to make the system work faster for you is to repeatedly hit zero. While this is usually an improvement over manually going through the menu, making use of the Call-A-Human application is still more efficient. Time for the same Corporations are listed below including the time in seconds to get through by repeatedly hitting zero, and the efficiency improvement seen by the application over the traditional way of dialing, and the zero stategy

Corporation

Phone Menu

Zero Strategy

Call-A Human

Efficiency (menu)

Efficiency (zero)

American Eagle

44

17

14

214%

21%

FedEx

136

35

14

871%

150%

Hertz

33

24

18

83%

33%

Mutual of Omaha

31

18

17

82%

6%

Norwegian Cruise Line

32

11

11

191%

0%

RBC

72

33

14

414%

136%

Time Warner Cable

60

36

26

131%

38%

US Bank

62

40

18

244%

122%

WalMart

56

XXX

11

409%

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Two listings should stand out in the above chart. The first is that the time for the zero strategy for Norwegian Cruise Lines is the same as for using the Call-A-Human application. This is because, in this instance, dialing zero is the best approach and actually what the application is doing here behind the scenes. The second listing to note is WalMart, who instead of speeding up the process will actually hang up on you if you use the zero strategy when calling their line.

Universal Search integration

On BlackBerry devices running OS6 such as the 9800, 9670, and 9780, the Call-A-Human application integrates with the device’s Universal Search. For these devices there is no need to ever even launch the application, instead you can just start typing, and then select the company that you want to call from the search results.